Equipment for having loose material of any kind and consistency, and filth and sweepings in particular, gathered, rammed and filled into portable containers



' Nov. 27, 1962 E. GHIRINGHELLI 7 3,065,536

EQUIPMENT FOR HAVING LOOSE MATERIAL OF ANY KIND AND CONSISTENCY, AND FILTH AND SWEEPINGS IN PARTICULAR, GATHERED, RAMMED AND FILLED INTO PORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 22, 1959 N 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN I OR 4-; Gamma/64:444.

ATTORNEY NOV. 27, 1962 GHlRlNGHELL] 3,065,586

EQUIPMENT FOR HAVING LOOSE MATERIAL OF ANY KIND AND CONSISTENCY, AND FILTH AND SWEEPINGS IN PARTICULAR, GATHERED, RAMMED AND FILLED INTO PORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 22, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Nov. 27, 1962 E. GHIRINGHELLI 3,065,586

- EQUIPMENT FOR HAVING LOOSE MATERIAL OF ANY KIND AND CONSISTENCY, AND F ILTH AND SWEEPINGS IN PARTICULAR, GATHERED, RAMMED AND FILLED INTo PORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 22, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GHIIING/{E L I ATTORNEYs Nov. 27, 1962 E. GHIRINGHELL] 3,065,586

EQUIPMENT FOR HAVING LOOSE MATERIAL OF ANY KIND AND CONSISTENCY, AND FILTH AND SWEEPINGS IN PARTICULAR, GATHERED, RAMMED AND FILLED INTO PORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 22, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY fi d 1%M ATTORNEYfi E. GHIRINGHELLI 3,065,536

ING LOOSE MATERIAL OF ANY KIND AND AND FILTH AND SWEEPINGS IN AR, GATHERED, RAMMED AND NTO PORTABLE CONTAINERS ACCD HNIE ET RTRL OS I

Fq PF Nov. 27, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 22, 1959 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS '-G aa/wka'veymz;

'trol' valves.

S tts f at ttt Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,065,586 EQUIPMENT FOR HAVING LOGSE MATERIAL OF ANY KIND AND CONSISTENCY, AND FILTH AND SWEEPINGS IN PARTICULAR, GATHERED, RAMMED AND FILLED INTO PORTABLE CON- TAINERS Enrico Ghiringhelli, 27 Viaie Coni Zugna, Milan, Italy I 'Filed Dec. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 861,364

Claims priority, application Italy Dec. 24, 1958 Claims. (Cl. 53-124) of any kind and consistency, for instance filth, sweepings and other refuse, after having been collected in hoppers or loading chambers, canbe fed to a chamber in which such material(s) is laterally compressed to reduce their bulk, and then rammed or pushed out of such chamber and into suitable portable containers for axially compressing such material within the container and automatically effecting the closing of the container with a suitable closure positioned between the active face of the ram or plunger and the material being pushed into the container.

The driving means for effecting the above-mentioned lateral compressing and ramming operations are of the oleo-dynami'c'type and conveniently consist of a hydraulic pump-unit, powered by an electric motor, and connected with two cylinder-piston units, controlled by suitable con- An advantageous embodiment of the invention comprises ramming means including a plunger or pusher, reciprocable within and through a ramming chamber, and driven by a reciprocating fluid motor, said chamber being provided at one end with means adapted to removably support and lock in alignment with the axis of the chamber a refuse receiving container, while the chamber in advance of such container is in communication with the duct, bin orhopper, the outlet of which is controlled by a suitable closure or gate.

According to the invention, the closure or gate with which the loading hopper or bin is provided, consists of a tile-shaped plate or shutter secured to a preferably arcuately shaped movable wall section of ramming chamber the other wall of which is preferably arcuate so that the ramming means accommodating compressing chamber is of cylindrical shape. The assembly of shutter and movable wall section is connected with a reciprocating fluid motor, whereby each time the material is filled into the ramming chamber it is laterally or radially rammed or compressed by said movable wall section, or jaw, and thereafter also axially rammed or compressed.

The material, rammed in the above stated manner, is then driven by the plunger out of the chamber, and into the removable container.

The invention will be disclosed in the following description, taken in conection with the accompanying drawings, wherein one preferred embodiment of the apparatus for the above-stated purpose is shown, with both description and drawings being only an illustrative example. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in longitudinal section through the compressing chamber;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are views partly in side elevation and partly in transverse vertical section respectively illustrating the feed duct and Wall means that define the compressing chamber in closed and open position;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the. apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view from the opposite end of the apparatus and illustrating a detail;

FIGURE 7 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in transverse section on an enlarged scale and illustrating the movable and fixed walls of the compressing chamber; and

FIGURES 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views partly in vertical section through the chamber and illustrating two successive stages in a container filling operation.

As shown in the drawing the apparatus of the invention includes a duct 1 having attaching flanges 40 secured to a Wall B so as to be in communication with a refuse chute therein. The duct 1 is downwardly inclined and has a flanged connection with a housing H supported on a suitable framework 6. The duct 1 is provided with an opening controlled by a door or gate 2 through which the material flow can be observed or controlled. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 the bottom end of the duct feeds the material between fixed and movable wall sections 14 and 15 that in open position accommodates such material and in closed position have laterally compressed the material as explained hereinafter. The chamber denoted by these walls is denoted generally at 3.

As stated, the duct feeds material into the ramming chamber 3, through which a pusher unit 4 is reciprocable. The pusher unit is actuated by a pump-motor unit 5, mounted in frame 6, which also supports the ramming chamber, housing and thus the duct. Bracket means 29, for removably holding a portable container 7 are fitted on the opposite end of the chamber housing which also accommodates lock levers 27.for holding the container in axial alignment with the chamber 3 on cradles 50 carried by the bracket means 29.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the pusher unit includes a cylindrical body or frame 9 provided with a flange 32 at its inner end which is connected to the side wall 13 of the housing H so that the cylindrical body 9 will be in alignment with the compressing chamber proper defined between the wall sections or jaws 14 and 15 when they are in closed position. Within this frame 9 is disposed a cylindrical piston body 10 having a crowned head 11 at one end. The body 10 is associated with the head by peripheral bead or shoulder 34. The assembly of cylindrical body 10 and crowned head 11 constitute the ram or plunger.

The plunger is axially reciprocated by a double-acting cylinder-piston unit 36, secured by a suitable flange 38 to the free or outer end of cylindrical frame 9.

FIGURE 2 illustrates in addition, longitudinal section the ramming chamber 3 with a portable container 7 removably secured to the outlet end thereof. Such chamber is shown in more detail in FIGURE 3, which illustrates a drive cylinder piston unit 26 pivotally secured at one end of an arm 16 that carries the movable wall section 15 and at its other end to frame 6. The unit 26 is in fluid connection with the pump motor unit 5, also mounted on frame 6.

The loading duct or bin 1 is provided with a tight closing door 2, to allow for the visual or manual inspection thereof, and the lower end of said duct is suitably flanged and connected to side walls 13, 13 of the housing H that surrounds the ramming and cutting chamber 3.

The chamber 3, shown in more detail in the FIG. 7, is defined by and between a lower, semicylindrical or polygonal shaped fixed or wall jaw 14 and an upper, similarly formed movable jaw or wall 15, the latter jaw assesses being provided with an actuating arm 16 and hinged by a hinge pin 17 to jaw 14.

A bar 18 formed with a cutting edge so as to constitute a fixed shear blade is secured to jaw 14 and a similar bar 19, formed with a cutting edge showing two inclined faces, converging to the middle line of such bar, is secured to the leading edge of upper jaw 15, thereby forming a movable shear blade.

A pantile shaped plate or shutter 20 is secured to upper side of arm 16, flush with the cutting edge of bar 19. The axis of symmetry of said plate is coincident with the axis of hinge pin 17 and terminates near a second hinge 42, which will be described later.

The pantile shaped plate or shatter 20 is designed to support the material contained in the loading hopper or duct 1, and to act as a closure for said duct 1 when the upper jaw is being closed. To such a purpose, packings 21, 22 of rubber or like materials are fitted for cooperation with the back of plate or shutter 20.

The sealing of ramming chamber 3 is ensured also by further packing means not shown mounted in suitable locations so as to prevent any escape of dust, gas or vapor from such chamber.

A chamber 24, closed by an upper inspection and control door 25 is formed opposite to the cutting edge of lower shear bar 18. Such chamber serves for checking the shearing operation, and for the removal of materials which might possibly be seized between the two bars 18 and 19, thereby preventing the complete closing of the ramming chamber 3. Moreover, said door 25 also allows access to said chamber 3 when the movable jaw 15 is lifted or opened.

The upper jaw 15 is actuated, that is, opened and closed by the double acting hydraulic cylinder-piston unit 26, connected with an actuating arm 16 at the hinge 42, and secured at its opposite end to frame 6 by means of a pivot connection 44. Pressure oil is fed to said cylincler-piston unit 26 from the pump motor unit through a valve means 46, which also controls the flow to cylinderpiston unit 36.

The means by which a portable container 7 is centered and locked, is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6. Such means comprise two levers 27; wedge plates 48 formed on the outer ends thereof, and pivot means 27'. The assembly of lock levers and pivot means are mounted on side wall 13' of the housing H so that the wedge plates 48 can move through opposed slots formed in a ring 28 also mounted on the side wall of the housing H. The ring 28 is provided with a cone shaped centering collar or surface 28' so that a portable container having a flange 54 can be pushed up against the ring and center and on the cradle 50 whereupon the movement of the levers 27 applies the wedge plates 48 behind the flange 54' to hold the container in place with its axis in alignment with the axis of chamber 3.

The bracket means 29, also secured to side wall 13-, is formed with a cradle 50, designed to support a portable container 7 while it is being centered and locked.

The portable container 7, as shown in the FIGS. 8 and 9, consists of a' cylindrical body 52, formed with flanges 54 and 55 at its opposite ends. As state-d, the flange 54 can be brought into engagement with the collar of ring 28, and then locked therein by means of wedge plates 48. The flange 55 isformed with" an internal bead or groove 56, in which the peripheral edge of a closure bottom 8 is restrained.

The bottom 8 is manually fitted in place, before the container is locked to the apparatus. The flange 54 is similarly formed with an internal edge or bead, to restrain the peripheral edge of a closure bottom 8, similar to bottom 8. Said bottom 8' is fitted automatically in place in the container 52 by the action of plunger 10, 11 while the container is being filled, or after the filling thereof. More precisely, when the plunger 10, 11 moves to its retracted position. The bottom 8' is inserted at through a suitable slot 30, provided in advance of the plunger head 11 in the wall of guide cylinder 9 being such slot provided with sealing packings, as well as with reference indicia for the accurate positioning of bottom 8'.

The interior or cylindrical frame 9 at a position between the chamber 3 and said slot 30, is formed with a conical seat, with which the edge of bottom 8' is engageable. When the crowned head 11 of the plunger, driven by the cylinder-piston unit 36', comes into contact with the bottom 8', this latter engages seat 30 and is forced to assume a bulged shape, so that its effective diameter is reduced, while its outer edge comes to rest against the shoulder 34. Thus, the bottom 8 can be driven across the ramming chamber 3 and inserted within and behind the front flange 54 of container 7, whose inner dimension and shape are similar to those of said chamber. After the edge of bottom 8 has been driven beyond the inside edge of flange 54 by axial compression of the material, the plunger 10, 11 is retracted, whereby due to expansion of the compressed material the bottom 8' again assumes its original flat shape, and thus becomes engaged behind the internal bead on the inside of flange 54 of container 7.

Due to the reaction the material, previously rammed in the ramming chamber and driven into the container 7, both bottoms 8 and 8' areforced against the internal bead on the interior of container flanges 54 and 55, thus sealing the container. 7

The operation of the apparatus isas follows: the material, flowing from hopper 1, is parted by the upper jaw 15, and, if required sheared by the blades 18 and 19, is laterally rammed or compressed in the ramming chamber down to the required volume. Then, the bottom 8 is inserted into the slot 30 and the cylinder-piston unit 36 is started.

The contents of chamber 3 is driven by the plunger 10, 11, into the container 7, so that it is axially compressed- Within the container and reduced in volume down to the required final value. Upon retraction of the plunger the bottom 8, having been driven beyond the sealing flange 54, becomes engaged withthe internal bead on the inner edge thereof thereby closing the container.

The equipment is moreover provided with all safety devices, as prescribed by the regulations'in force.

It is, therefore, clear that the present invention relates to apparatus for collecting and packaging refuse. The apparatus includes a duct which isdownwardly inclined and feeds material to a chamber in which the material is compressed laterally. The chamber is defined by a fixed wall and a co'operable moving wall. The movable wall ispivoted about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the chamber defined by the Walls. The bottom of the chute or duct lies in a plane that extends through the chamber between the axis of the chamber and the axis about which the movable wall pivots. The movable wall has connected therewith a shutter that is of an external arcuate shape, and which shutter has greater extent than the extent of either the fixed or movable walls in a direction transverse to the axis of the chamber. Further, the are that defines thisexternal shape extends about a center having a radius substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the chamber. The fixed wall has a stationary shear blade mounted thereon, and the movable wall carries a cooper-able shear blade at its leading edge. This shear blade is an extension of the external shape of the shutter. The arrangement is such that when the movable wall ismoved to close the chamber, the cooperating facing surfaces of the fixed and movable wall compress material that is supported within the space de fined between these walls when they are opened. The shear blade on the movable wall acts on the refuse material in a direction approximately tangential to the direction of flow of the refuse material, so as to obtain proper speaese shearing action. Further, the shutter in its movement is likewise moving generally in the direction of the flow of the refuse material, so that a proper closing action of the lower end of the duct and of the compression chamber is obtained with a minimum of resistance. After the refuse has been compressed laterally, and the container has been supported on the horizontal base and locked to the ring at one end of the chamber, the plunger at the other end of the chamber rams the material into the chamber and compresses it axially.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for collecting and packaging refuse comprising a fixed Wall having an exposed upper surface defining a portion of a chamber, a cooperating movable wall, means mounting the movable wall for movement toward and away from the fixed wall between a closed position defining a chamber, and an open refuse receiving position, means for moving the movable wall about an axis parallel to the axis of the chamber to be defined, said movable wall having an inner surface cooperating with the surface of the fixed wall for laterally compressing refuse, the chamber having a lonigtudinal axis and opposite open ends, a duct extending at an angle toward the fixed wall for delivering refuse into the space between the walls when the movable wall has been moved to open position, means at one end of such chamber adapted to removably support and lock in alignment with the axis of the chamber a refuse receiving container, ramming means supported at the opposite end of such chamber, means for reciprocating said ramming means through the chamber, whereby refuse fed into the space between said walls is compressed laterally when the movable wall is moved to closed position, and said ramming means including a plunger adapted to push the laterally compressed refuse out of the chamber and into the container for axially compressing such refuse within the container.

2. Apparatus for collecting and packaging refuse comprising a fixed wall having an exposed upper surface defining a portion of a chamber, a cooperating movable wall, means mounting the movable wall for movement toward and away from the fixed wall between a closed position defining a chamber, and an open refuse receiving position, means for moving the movable wall about an axis parallel to the axis of the chamber to be defined, said movable wall having an inner surface cooperating with the surface of the fixed wall for laterally compressing refuse, the chamber having a longitudinal axis and opposite open ends, a duct extending at an angle toward the fixed wall for delivering refuse into the space between the walls when the movable wall has been moved to open position, means at one end of such chamber adapted to removably support and lock in alignment with the axis of the chamber a refuse receiving container, ramming means supported at the opposite end of such chamber, means for reciprocating said ramming means through the chamber, whereby refuse fed into the space between said walls is compressed laterally when the movable wall is moved to closed position, said ramming means including a plunger adapted to push the laterally compressed refuse out of the chamber and into the container for axially compressing such refuse within the container, said duct including a bottom wall terminating above the chamber and lying in a plane extending transversely of the axis of the chamber and disposed between said axis and the axis about which the movable wall moves, a shutter having an external arcuate shape carried by said movable wall, the arc defining such shape having its center on a radius substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the chamber and the extent of the arcuate shape of the shutter being substantially greater than the extent of the fixed wall, so that when the movable wall moves to a position to close the chamber said shutter moves along a path that extends in an approximation with the direction of feed of the refuse so as to incur minimum resistance and to properly close the duct.

3. Apparatus for collecting and packaging refuse comprising a fixed wall having an exposed upper surface defining a portion of a chamber, a cooperating movable wall, means mounting the movable wall for movement toward and away from the fixed wall between a closed position defining a chamber, and an open refuse receiving position, means for moving the movable wall about an axis parallel to the axis of the chamber to be defined, said movable wall having an inner surface cooperating with the surface of the fixed wall for laterally compressrefuse, the chamber having a longitudinal axis and opposite open ends, a duct extending at an angle toward the fixed wall for delivering refuse into the space between the walls when the movable wall has been moved to open position, means at one end of such chamber adapted to removably support and lock in alignment with the axis of the chamber a refuse receiving container, ramming means supported at the opposite end of such chamber, means for reciprocating said ramming means through the chamber, whereby refuse fed into the space between said walls is compressed laterally when the movable wall is moved to closed position, said ramming means including a plunger adapted to push the laterally compressed refuse out of the chamber and into the container for axially compressing such refuse within the container, said duct including a bottom wall terminating above the chamber and lying in a plane extending transverseiy of the axis of the chamber and disposed between said axis and the axis about which the movable wall moves, a shutter having an external arcuate shape carried by said movable wall, the arc defining such shape having its center on a radius substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the chamber, the extent of the arcuate shape of the shutter being substantially greater than the extent of the fixed wall, so that when the movable wall moves to a position to close the chamber said shutter moves along a path thatextends in an approximation with the direction of feed of the refuse so as to incur minimum resistance and to properly close the duct, a fixed shear blade carried by the fixed wall and extending along the edge thereof remote from the axis about which the movable wall moves, and a cooperating shear blade carried by and extending along the leading edge of the movable wall, and lying in an extension of the arcuate shape of the shutter, so that when the movable wall moves to closed position, said lastmentioned shear blade moves through the refuse material in a path that is approximately tangential to the direction of feed of refuse, so as to insure proper shearing with minimum resistance.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the means for removably supporting and locking the container at one end of the chamber includes a horizontal base adapted to receive and support such container, a ring at said one end of the chamber and surrounding the same, and lever means pivotably mounted on such ring for movement toward and away from a supported container to removably lock the same relative to the ring and base.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and fluid operated means operably connected to the movable wall for swinging the same toward and away from the fixed wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 290,013 Elder Dec. 11, 1883 1,071,051 Hood Aug. 26, 1913 1,816,001 Borchert July 28, 1931 2,540,272 Malmstrom et al Feb. 6, 1951 2,682,137 Cox June 29, 1954 2,763,203 Russell Sept. 18, 1956 2,847,808 Romine Aug. 19, 1958 2,869,296 Overman Jan. 20, 1959 2,966,842 Roche Jan. 3, 1961 

